A TCU

Sound check

SAN DIEGO — Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson was thrilled when he learned players and staff each received an iPod Nano in their gift bag from the Poinsettia Bowl.

Patterson, in his sixth season as the Horned Frogs head coach and his ninth at the Ft. Worth school, has his own iPod filled with approximately 9,000 songs. He plugs it in for background music while watching game tape and while working in his office. Players and coaches are always asking to borrow it.

"Now maybe they'll leave mine alone," Patterson said with a smile. "They have their own now."

The Huskies are two-touchdown underdogs and will face what NIU coach Joe Novak says is the most athletic defense his team has seen, including No. 1 Ohio State, and a versatile offense.

"They really stretch you and do a little bit of everything," Novak said.

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The Poinsettia Bowl

Northern Illinois vs. Texas Christian( 7 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN2 )

Huskies outlook: There is little doubt TCU thinks it can stop Garrett Wolfe, the leading rusher in the country. Why? Because they have stopped every other running back they have faced. NIU QB Dan Nicholson will have to pass well to loosen up the TCU defense.

Horned Frogs outlook: In its last three games, TCU has averaged 45 points and 535.7 yards of offense. The Horned Frogs likely will pick on the Huskies' banged-up secondary.